Southern California -- this just in

Hundreds gather to remember man killed in Anaheim

July 29, 2012 | 10:05
pm

There were prayers and speeches, as well as drums and dancers in colorful headdresses, as hundreds gathered Sunday to remember Manuel Diaz near the site where he was fatally shot by Anaheim police this month.

The July 21 shooting was among the cases that spurred outrage and protests in Orange County's largest city. Another man, Joel Acevedo, 21, was fatally shot by police a day later.

A makeshift memorial had sprouted near the spot on Anna Street where Diaz, 25, was killed. The memorial had pictures of Diaz playing basketball alongside signs denouncing police. The crowd that had gathered held candles as speakers offered prayers and memories of Diaz.

The vigil took place shortly after a day-long protest in Anaheim, in which hundreds assembled outside police headquarters. At the protest, there was a white banner for those in attendance to sign. The banner was brought to Diaz's memorial.

"No more police violence," someone had written.

"R.I.P., my boy, Emmanuel," another person wrote.

Diaz's older sister, Deana Coleman, urged everyone to remain peaceful, even as they continued to protest. "We all, as a family, ask that this is peaceful for him," Coleman said. "And when this is all over, that everyone goes home safely. We want this to be something to remember him in a good way."

She added later that despite the tragedy, her family was coping. "We're holding together," she said.